Quiet time

Have you ever been around someone talking about their favorite city or favorite place? Their eyes seem to get bigger as they tell you about the food, the landscape, the people, all the things that make that place special, and they’ll probably finish by saying “you just have to see it!” I wonder what would happen if I got that excited when I talked about my story. Not because of all that I’ve accomplished, but because of what God has done and how far He has carried me. As believers after we interact with people, they should be left with the question “what does this person have? I want some of it.” That something isn’t money or a glamorous life, but the joy that God brings us.

We read in the Bible about the encounter of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Jesus started a conversation with a woman who was alone gathering water, and as soon as she realized that He was the Messiah they have been waiting for she ran to tell everyone “Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ‘come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?’” (John 4:28-29)

As believers many times we think that we need to “fix” people, but that’s not our responsibility. We aren’t meant to change people, we’re meant to love them. We invite them by saying, “come and see what God has done in my life. You don’t have to believe, you don’t have to hear a long sermon about it. I’m just happy so I want to share it with you”. Our life is our witness. We are called to be love wherever we go. We aren’t supposed to judge, assume, or reject. Many times we forget what is written: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) The word “whoever” includes everyone. who am I to decide who to love and who not to love? Jesus died for everyone

God’s witnesses have a serious responsibility: “… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Are people excited to hear and see your witness? Are they interested when you say to them “come and see”? Are you loving the way Jesus loves you, unconditionally and undeservedly?

Your life, your experiences, and your stories have happened for a reason. They are part of your witness to the world and a channel for God to show love to the people around you. Invite people into your life, not to “teach” them the proper way or to “lecture” them about what they should or shouldn’t do but to love them, to show them that God is good and He can do amazing things. Let your life be an invitation, an open door for everyone around to experience the love of God.